UCR-HS Counselor
Workshop
Harry W. K. Tom
Chair, Physics and Astronomy Dept.
UC Riverside
December 2, 2009
Welcome
UCR Physics and Astronomy Dept
Leonid Pryadko, Outreach Committee Chair
Michael Horton (RCOE)
Science Coordinator and AVID Coordinator
Richard Hall (SBCSS)
Science/Environmental Education Coordinator
Maria Simani
UCR Alpha Center
Jing Shi
Chair, Physics Undergrad Advising Committee
Goals of Workshop
Find ways to Increase # HS students taking
Physics up to State and National averages
Discuss the barriers to more Inland Empire
HS student taking Physics
Create Motivational Materials and Provide
Assistance to HS Counselors
Inform Counselors about UCR involvement
with Physics teachers
Explore Other Ways UCR Physics can help
Why should we increase # of
HS students taking physics?
10 Reasons Why High School Students
Should Take Physics
Inland Empire HS Physics enrollments lag
State by 2X and lag nation by 3X
1. Physics is a core science
discipline
Physics with Biology and Chemistry are the 3
Fundamental “Core” Science Disciplines
Your view of the world, nature, and how things work are
incomplete without a knowledge of physics…as incomplete as
if you skipped biology or chemistry
Physics, more than the other 2 core sciences, uses
mathematics and computing which give it a precision,
predictive power, and simulation power, that are
unprecedented in human history
All other science and engineering are based on biology,
chemistry, physics and math—physics is required for all
science and engineering majors in college
You are at an advantage if you have had a high school course in
Physics
Physics should be the 3rd
science course taken in HS
Physics is a CORE discipline: ALL science is
based on 4 pillars: Math, Biology, Chemistry
and Physics
UC requires 1 Life Science and 1 Physical
Science and recommends a 3rd year of HS
Science. Students are advised to take Biology,
Chemistry…. 3rd choice should be PHYSICS.
Physics is accepted as 3rd science course by UC
Anatomy, Physiology, Earth Science are not core
disciplines
2. Most modern technology
involves physics.
Any technology involving electricity,
magnetism, force, pressure, heat, light,
energy, sound, optics, etc. comes from
physics.
Basic knowledge required for products like
fertilizers, drugs, plastics, and chemicals
comes from chemistry and biology, these
items have to eventually be manufactured,
and manufacturing is dominated by physicsbased technology.
3. HS Physics is the Gateway to
Physics, Engineering, and
Computing Jobs and Careers
Physics along with Biology and Chemistry are
the 3 Core Science Discipline
All 3 use math, but Physics uses math and
computing more
Engineering is based on Applied Physics
HS Physics begins training students in
quantitative science, applied math, and
problem solving
4. The job market for people with
skills in physics is stronger than for
skills in biology and chemistry
Engineers are applied physicists and
comprise the second largest profession in
America (second only to teaching) with about
1.4 million members. By comparison, there
are about 600 thousand medical doctors and
only around 100 thousand biologists.
STEM Careers are dominated by
Physics and Computer
1.65M
3.1M
Engineering and Computer
Science sectors > Life
Science/Chemistry sectors
1.1M
0.7M
Compare to other sectors: earth
science, social science, math
5. Physics is required in college
level science—student is at
disadvantage without HS Physics
1 year of college level Physics is required for
all other science majors
At UCR Life-Science Physics is Calculusbased
It is a gateway to upper division majors in
biology, chemistry, earth science,
environmental science, entomology,
biochemistry, mathematics, statistics
Example: HS Physics is Important
for Life Science Majors
All College Science Majors require a minimum of 1 year of College
Physics—in UC this is a Calculus-Based Physics Course
Life Science majors take:
Freshman:
1 year of Calculus
1 year of General Chem
Sophomore:
1 year of Organic Chem
1 year of Intro Biology
1 year of Physics (Calc based)
Junior:
1 year of Biochemistry
Lower Division Requirements include Physics before moving into a
specific biological major
Junior Transfer students must have completed Physics with a
minimum GPA requirement
Success Rate in Physics 2 (for
Life Science)
08W&08S (2B&2C) Mean vs 07F (2A) Grade
08W 2B Grade
08S 2C Grade
4
3.5
3
Mean
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
07F 2A Grade
3
3.5
4
4.5
6. Physics classes help polish the
skills needed to score well on the
SAT.
Physics classes provide practice in both
algebra and geometry. These are the types of
mathematics most likely to occur on the SAT.
To work physics problems, students must be
able to read and comprehend short
paragraphs then develop problem solving
strategies from them. Physics helps develop
both math and verbal skills.
Physics is a whole brain subject requiring
students to use both right and left brain
regions for translating complex verbal
information into pictures and finally into
mathematical models in order to solve
problems.
7. College recruiters recognize the
value of physics classes.
College recruiters tend to be favorably
impressed by transcripts containing
challenging classes like physics. They know it
is relatively easy to attain a high GPA by
taking a light course load. Some technically
oriented college programs will deny entrance
to students who have not taken high school
physics.
8. A knowledge of physics is
helpful for understanding the arts.
Physics is the science of sound and is needed for
understanding how musical instruments work.
Physics is also the science of light and is key to
understanding visual artwork including paintings,
photograph, stage lighting, filmmaking, etc.
Even literary works have been influenced by
physics. William Faulkner, for example, used the
symbolism of time dilation in The Sound and the
Fury. Many commonly used expressions in everyday
language come from physics, including quantum
leap, free fall, light years, black holes, resonance,
and being on the same wave length.
9. Physics leads to a better
understanding of politics, history,
and culture because technology is so
important.
Supply and use of water, energy resources,
technology is the basis for civilization
Competition for Resources, Defense and
Military technology have shaped history (iron
age, bronze age)
Quantum Mechanics and Relativity 20th
century
Global warming
10. Physics offers a deep and
unique perspective in itself
Physics has set the “scientific method” and has
the most stringent requirements for hypothesis
and test of hypothesis. Physics theories are not
only tested 1000’s of times but a single contrary
experiment can force the change of a theory
Classical Physics fell from 3 experiments
Photoelectric effect, black body radiation spectrum, spectral
lines from atoms
The (Accelerating) Expansion of the Universe signals
a new Physics to include Dark Energy and Dark
Matter
Summary of STEM job future
1.5X more Physics-Related jobs than Life
Science-related
3X more Computer-Related jobs than Life
Science-related
Life Science and Chemistry jobs are 30% of
STEM total
HS students who don’t take Physics are
unlikely to pursue the majority (70%) of
STEM careers
US Competitiveness:
America Competes Act
First University Engineering
Degrees, by selected country:
1985-2005
US has not increased number in 20
years, per capita Engineering
BS has decreased despite
Silicon Valley, Dot.com,
Biotechnology
USA
China
S Korea
Japan
UK
Germany
Population
(millions)
304
Engineering
BS/year
(1000)
% per capita
67
0.02%
1330
450
0.03%
49
128
61
82
75
100
21
12
0.15%
0.08%
0.03%
0.01%
Physics Majors
World Wide
Physics generates the
enabling technology,
i.e., invention of laser,
transistor, integrated
circuit, magnetic
memory, xray
tomography, MRI
imaging, PET
Impact of US Engineering and
Physics competitiveness
US needs to increase per capita Engineering
and Physics BS production to sustain its #1
technology position in a world
Lack of US-trained engineers has forced
hiring of large numbers of foreign-trained
engineers. Engineering BS and PhD have
excellent job prospects
Threshold for good positions is “lower” in
Engineering/Physics than for Medical School
US HS Physics Enrollments
31% of
Public HS
seniors have
taken
Physics
Virtually
100% of
Private HS
seniors take
Physics
Riverside County 2007-8
Riverside
Ethnic Intermediat
Group
e Algebra
60 (13.3
AM IND
%)
365 (20.8
ASIAN
%)
57 (19.7
PAC ISLD
%)
309 (22.4
FILIPINO
%)
4,569
HISPANIC
(13.6 %)
839 (15.3
AFR AM
%)
3,654
WHITE
(17.9 %)
MULT./NO 181 (14.5
RESP
%)
County
10,034
Total
(15.5 %)
172,404
State Total
(17.6 %)
Female
Advanced 1st Year
Math
Chemistry
37 (8.2 %) 44 (9.8 %)
575 (32.8
%)
33 (11.4
%)
378 (27.4
%)
3,182
(9.5 %)
517 (9.4
%)
3,536
(17.4 %)
175 (14.1
%)
8,433
(13.1 %)
140,317
(14.3 %)
426 (24.3
%)
56 (19.3
%)
308 (22.3
%)
3,690
(11.0 %)
881 (16.1
%)
3,314
(16.3 %)
212 (17.0
%)
8,931
(13.8 %)
143,066
(14.6 %)
Male
1st Year
9-12
Intermediat Advanced 1st Year
Physics Enrollment e Algebra
Math
Chemistry
40 (10.0
12 (2.7 %)
451
27 (6.8 %) 24 (6.0 %)
%)
143 (8.2
392 (20.8 580 (30.8 403 (21.4
1,751
%)
%)
%)
%)
42 (13.7
42 (13.7
6 (2.1 %)
290
29 (9.4 %)
%)
%)
307 (22.2 310 (22.4 277 (20.0
83 (6.0 %)
1,379
%)
%)
%)
691
3,907
2,640
3,012
33,623
(2.1 %)
(11.1 %)
(7.5 %)
(8.5 %)
104 (1.9
744 (12.8
358 (6.2 708 (12.2
5,471
%)
%)
%)
%)
709
3,391
3,274
2,934
20,371
(3.5 %)
(15.8 %) (15.3 %) (13.7 %)
166 (12.8 163 (12.6 168 (13.0
35 (2.8 %)
1,244
%)
%)
%)
1,783
8,989
7,381
7,568
64,580
(2.8 %)
(13.3 %) (10.9 %) (11.2 %)
50,137
159,922
128,241
127,588
979,886
(5.1 %)
(15.5 %) (12.4 %) (12.4 %)
1st Year
9-12
Total 9-12
Physics Enrollment Enrollment
11 (2.8 %)
399
850
207 (11.0
%)
1,885
3,636
6 (2.0 %)
307
597
1,386
2,765
35,256
68,879
5,818
11,289
21,407
41,778
1,292
2,536
114 (8.2
%)
748
(2.1 %)
106 (1.8
%)
1,112
(5.2 %)
51 (3.9 %)
2,355
67,750
132,330
(3.5 %)
56,632
1,032,653 2,012,539
(5.5 %)
Riverside Physics Enrollment
USA:
CA State:
Riverside:
31% of public HS graduates take Physics
21.2% of graduates take Physics (5.3%X4)
12.6% of graduates take Physics (3.15%X4)
All Students:
93% of State Average in Chemistry
60% of State Average in Physics
Female Students:
92% of State Average in Advanced Math
95% of State Average in Chemistry
55% of State Average in Physics
Male Students:
88% of State Average in Advanced Math
90% of State Average in Chemistry
64% of State Average in Physics
Slightly Lower for San Bernadino County
Enrollment by Ethnic Group
RCOE
38.5%
17.4%
7.4%
8.4%
Impact to IE Youth
3X lower access to high tech education, jobs,
and careers than national average
Less competitive for better 4-year colleges
which look favorably on harder college prep
Lack experience with quantitative science,
applied math, physical intuition and technical
problem solving
Quality of HS Physics teaching is lower
because teachers do not teach Physics full
time
Why College Bound need
HS Physics
All Science and Engineering students must
take and pass College Physics
Premeds-Biology majors need to take Physics 2nd
year…at all UC’s Physics is Calculus-based
Engineers-Chemistry-Physics majors must take
Calculus-Based Physics freshman year
Students are less likely to do well in College Physics
if they have not taken HS Physics
Why College Bound need
HS Physics
Non-science/engineering majors must take 1
Physical Science course—combined with HS
Chemistry and HS Physics….barely sufficient
for careers in technology sector in
administration, sales, repair and service. HS
Physics could be a significant fraction of total
Physical Science education.
Female Student Enrollment
Physics Increases by Course
Physics as college prep
Physics Teaching Assignment
Teachers have more difficulty preparing when
they are assigned primarily non-physics
What do Physicists do?
Explore new phenomena and seek new
fundamental understanding (physics-academiaresearch)
Apply physics in new ways to other science and
engineering disciplines (applied physics,
biophysics, chemical physics, material science,
academia-research)
Apply physics to solve real world problems
(nuclear physics, biomedical physics, materials
physics, device physics, environmental
physics—research--industry)
What do Physicists do?
Use disciplinary skills in abstraction, model
building, mathematics and computing to solve
technical problems (production and
manufacturing, stock market modeling)
Use physics knowledge for business, technical
sales, patent law, science administration, and
policy (science, education, defense,
environmental)
Teaching at K-12 and higher levels
What Do Physics BS
graduates do?
40% get immediate employment
36% in Physics/Astronomy Graduate
School
20% in “other” Graduate Study
Medical/Dental/Health Professional
Law (especially business or patent)
Business (especially tech sector)
Engineering (Electrical, Material
Science, Mechanical, Chemical,
Aeronautical)
Chemistry & Physical Chemistry
Biochemistry/Biology/Biophysics/
Bioengineering
BS Initial Employment
40% get jobs immediately
BS Private Sector and Salary
What do PhD’s vs BS’s do?
Academia
Ph.D.’s teach at community colleges, state
universities (CSU) and research universities (UC)
B.S. teach K-12
Government
Ph.D.’s do scientific research at national
laboratories (LANL), administer science programs
as science specialists (NSF), serve as scientific
experts in government agencies (DOE)
B.S. work as lab assistants in government labs, or
serve in administrative roles in scientific agencies,
or assist scientific experts in government labs.
What do PhD’s vs BS’s do?
Industry
Ph.D.’s do scientific or engineering research (IBM,
HP), provide intellectual property for companies,
serve as technical managers
B.S. work as physicist/engineer on current
projects, assist Ph.D.’s on research projects as
lab assistants or technicians, work in technical
sales or production and production management.
Physicist work in Academia,
Government, Private Industry
and High Schools
Skills used by Physics PhD’s
Getting a PhD/Permanent Job
BS degree 4 years
[MSc program: typically 2 years can be
terminal degree or prep for PhD—can apply
to PhD program towards end of completion]
PhD program: typical 6.5 years, 5-8 years
range (theory shorter, experiment longer)
MSc is typically included along way in 2 years
Postdoctoral Research Position: 2-5 years of
additional “post-PhD” training, depending on
field and desired job
Initial Employment for PhD’s
Ph.D. Starting Salary & Sector
Reasons for taking postdoc
Initial Employment by subfield
Ph.D. salaries (median age)
Paying for a PhD degree
Almost all PhD granting programs in Physics
provide financial aid
Teaching Assistantships (1-2 years)
Fellowships (1-2 years)
Graduate Research Assistantships (years 3-end)
Admission to a graduate program is
essentially receiving a scholarship—provided
you make satisfactory progress
Demanding undergraduate curriculum, good
grades, GRE scores, undergraduate research
participation/internships increase your chances
Job Sector Growth
Reasons to get a PhD at
UC Riverside
Harry W. K. Tom
Chair, Physics and Astronomy Dept.
UC Riverside
Distinguished Faculty
29 Faculty
Junior Faculty Awards
5 National Science Foundation Career Award
1 Sloan Research Fellow
2 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award
3 Dept of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator Award
18 Full Professor Honors
APS Panofsky Prize (High Energy)
Humboldt Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
9 APS Fellows
5 AAAS Fellows
Growing Graduate Program
Graduate enrollment has grown from 66 to 109
in last 5 years
Expected enrollment for Fall 2010 is 116 and
Fall 2011 is 125.
Entering class ~24 students, 10 foreign, 14
domestic provides critical mass for student
cohort, student breadth, national and
international diversity and full graduate
curriculum
Full Graduate Curriculum
29 graduate courses offered
26 each year, 3 courses in alternate years
17 core courses (first year), and 12 electives
Ph.D. in Physics with Emphasis in 7 tracks
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Condensed Matter, Surface, Optical Physics and
Biophysics
Astrophysics
Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Environmental Physics
Materials and Nanoscale Physics
Astronomy.
Research Infrastructure/Activities
~$7M Extramural Grants/year
Support for > 20 Postdoctoral Researchers,
3-5 Research Scientists giving students 29
faculty and 25 additional PhD’s to train with
Weekly Dept colloquium and topical seminars
bring outside physicists and astronomers to
campus
Condensed Matter
Nanoscale Science and Engineering
Astronomy
High Energy
Graduate Program Highlights
Outstanding Multidisciplinary Training and
Research Opportunities
For Condensed Matter with UCR Center for
Nanoscale Science and Engineering with
faculty from Chemistry and Engineering
College
For Biophysics with UCR’s
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and
Bioengineering
For Environmental Physics with joint MSc
program with UCR Environmental Science
Graduate Program Highlights
High Energy and Relativistic Heavy Ion
Physics programs highly leveraged with
international collaborations at LHC, RHIC,
SLAC, Fermi Lab
Astronomy program well-leveraged with
UC telescopes (Keck and future TMT),
Southern California astronomy
infrastructure, and access to SpARCS and
COSMOS survey data
7. College success for virtually all
science, computing, engineering, and
premedical majors requires passing
physics.
Engineering is largely applied physics.
Pre-medicine majors typically must take a 1 year course
in Physics. About 25% of the science knowledge
required for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
is based on physics. Studies indicate that a high quality
high school physics course helps significantly reduce the
failure rate in college-level physics. Students themselves
typically indicate that high school physics is a significant
factor in their ability to handle college-level physics
material.